Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) says that recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning NATO should not be overly dramatised.
"One should not be startled, if something a bit stronger is said in Russia. I think that it is good that they say things straight; that gives no reason for hairs to stand on end. We have far too many traditions of using magnifying glasses to read and to listen to what is said in Russia", said Vanhanen during the meeting of European liberal parties in the Ruka resort in Kuusamo.
During the recent NATO summit, the Russian President warned that Russia opposes the enlargement of NATO near the borders of Russia. The message was specifically aimed at the prospect of NATO membership by Georgia and Ukraine.
Vanhanen emphasised on Monday that Finland should not be compared with any other country or group of countries, and that Finland makes its decisions itself. Pertti Salolainen (Nat. Coalition Party), the Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee said on a recent television interview programme that Finland's possibilities for applying for NATO membership have weakened, or possibly even gone.
Defence Committee Chairman Juha Korkeaoja (Centre) said for his part that the Russian statement did not contain anything new.
Prime Minister Vanhanen agrees with Korkeaoja on the matter. "Russia has repeated the same view over the years, using different forms of expression. They also made it clear during the NATO meeting that they do not decide on these membership questions."
